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Tips to ace a phone interview

Some companies prefer to use the phone interview instead of a face-to-face interview as the first step in screening candidates who have applied for a job. Hence the phone interview becomes an important step in reaching closer to being hired, because it means that you are at least being considered for a phone-in, out of the thousands of resumes that the job may have received. It pays to take it seriously then and make sure that you make the right impression even if you’re missing out on a face-to-face interaction.

Prepare: Prepare for a phone interview with the same amount of seriousness as you would if you were meeting someone in person. Research the company, read up on the job description and make cues cards with answers to anticipated questions.

Handy documents: Keep documents like your salary slip, offer letter and previous employment details ready so you can answer questions promptly and without delay. Even a few seconds delay is amplified on the phone and you don’t want to keep your interviewer waiting.

Quiet place: Make sure you are in a quiet place when your hiring manager calls you. If you’re at home, inform your family that you are not to be disturbed during the call. It’s not advisable to take interview calls in your office if you are working. Make yourself comfortable in the space where you’ll be doing the interview well before the appointed time.

Dress up: Even if you’re at home and the interviewer cannot see you, it’s important to dress up formally in work clothes. If you’re lounging around in home clothes and in bed, your voice will reflect the casual vibe and this is not the impression you want to give.

Practise: Do a pretend interview session with yourself. Speak slowly, clearly and go through all the points that you wish to bring to the discussion. Smile, you voice will reflect it and it will give the interviewer cues to your emotional intelligence.